The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-10
TAE BUREAU or PENSIONS
A REMARKABLE SHOWING FOR
THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30.
Tct'l Number Of Certificates OF All
Kinds Issued, 1l2,340, 55,104
Being Original Allowances.

WASHINGTON, July 9.-The work
OF the Bureau of Pensions for the
fiscal year, ending June 30, 1887,
makes a remarkable showing. The
total number of pension certificates
Of all kinds issued was 1890, Of
which 1914 were original allow
ances. The greatest previous record
ever made was in 1866, when the
original allowances amounted to
50,l77.
In 1886 but little was required to
prove a case, 10 fact the vast MAORI
ty were established upon the record
evidence obtained from the War De.
partment. When it is remembered
that twenty-five years have ELAPSED
since the close Of the war, and that
the difficulty Of establishing claims
for pension has very largely in
creased, the Pension Bureau, under
Gen. Blacks management, has sur.
passed the best record ever made
since its existence.
During the fiscal year ending June
30. 1888, the number Of all kinds Of
certificates issued was 52,97l, Of
which 3S,06l were original allow.
ances. In the fiscal year OF 1884 the
number issued was 56,729, Of which
"a, 100 were original allowances.
In the following fiscal year the
number Of allowances was 1886
among which were 35,77l original
cases. In tho fs cal year ending June
30, 1886, under the improved meth.
DDS inuaugurated by Gen. Black
there we're 1864 allowances, Of
which 1882 we're original claims.
The average number of clerks EN-.
ployed in the fiscal pear Of 1883 1884
was 1915: in the year of 1SSi-1SS5
1923; in the fiscal year of 1885 1886
1911, and 10 the last fiscal year 1880.
The average working time Of the
clerical force in the fiscal year oil
1884. 1885 was 266 days, and in the
following year under Gen. Black's
administration was increased to 28l
days, and Tor the fiscal year just
closed it was about the same. The
total number of claims Of all kinds
filed during the year was 1858, in.
GLIDING 81 ,S37 original, l06.3l7 in.
crease claims and 1877 Mexican
war claims.
The receipts Of mail matter for the
year show a marked increase in the
volume OF business Of the Office
There was received 1924, 1891 piece,
Of mail matter, and 1920 were
sent out, making a total Of 4,026, 80;
pieces handled, or an average Of
1901 pieces each working day Of tn,
year.
The average working force Of the
bureau for the year was 1850, and
the amount of time lost by reason Of
annual leaves, sick leaves aud leaves
without pay equaled the time Of l5S
employees for one year, including mes
sengers, Waterman, laborers, etc. Tn,
time lost by the clerical force durinl
the year averaged twenty-five day
annual leave, seven and one-t fifth day
sick leave and two and tWo-ffth dayl
without pay.
In the army aud navy survivors
division, the specially OF which is tn,
furnishing Of the names aud postof
fee addresses OF officers and com
rades whose evidence may be fOun,
to be necessary in the adjudicatibg o
pension claims, the work has beer
, more satisfactory. There we're sen
out the names and addresses OF l57,
227 officers and comrades, which in
formation assisted in the adjudication
Of y, o29 cases.
Without the help furnished by tn,
division il would have bean impossi
bic for many poor soldier 10 hay,
obtained his pension. The division
is also busily employed ia perfectinI
the record Of ex -prisoners OF war
which will be Of incalculable benefi
TO the bureau and claimant who wa
captured by the enemy during hi
term OF service. No less than 265
appeals from the action Of the bureau
10 the Secretary OF the Interior wer
pending 10 the law division at III
beginning Of the fiscal year, and26i
new cases were received, making
total Of 1901. OF this number 36S
were reopened and referred witt
proper reports TO the Secretary Of th
Interior for his decision an,
action. To show how we'll tb
work Of this division has bee
performed, the percentage Of an
peals in which the action oil the Pen
sion Bureau was reversed amounte
TO 81 per cent. The amount paid GU
for pensions during the year wi
probably reach tho sum Of VA, 600,
900. and OF the appropriations for th
expenses, salaries, etc, about e, 300
900 has been expended, leaving a bal
snce Of $4,000 to be turned bao
into the Treasury. The administers
ton may well congratulate itselfupo